Apparatus for heating individual portions

ABSTRACT

A combustible heating element detachable from the portion after use makes central contact with the portion. The portion may be food or other substances. A metallic heat transfer sheath surrounds a combustible substance within the element. The sheath has a Teflon coating between it and the portion. A friction igniter is attached to a pull tab extending exteriorly of the heating element. Preferably hand grips extend from an igniter base for stability while pulling the tab. The base also holds a filter unit to absorb the products of heating combustion.

UnitedSt'a'tes Patent Licher [4 1 May 16, 1972 [s41 APPARATUS FOR HEATING 2,553,878 5/1951 Steven ..126/263 INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS 2,896,607 7/1959 Eder ..126/262 [72] Inventor: Robert J. L lcher, 170 N. Adams St., Sierra p C j Myhre Callf- 9 l 024 Attorney-Wm. .lacquet Gribble [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 19.70 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' A combustible heating element detachable from the portion after use makes central contact with the portion. The portion [52] U.S.Cl ..126/263, 126/262 m y be food or h r u t n A m llic h transfer [5| Int. Cl A47 23/04, F24j 1/00 sheath surrounds a combustible substance within the element. sa Fleld 0! Search 126/262, 263 The Sheath has Teflon coating between it and the Portion A friction igniter is attached to a pull tab extending exteriorly of [56] References u the heating element. Preferably hand grips extend from an igniter base for stability while pulling the tab. The base also UNITED STATES PATENTS holds a filter unit to absorb the products of heating combusti n. 2,384,278 9/1945 Caldwell ..126/262 0 2,386,654 10/ 1945 Caldwell 126/263 5 Claims, 8 Drawing figures PATENTEDMY 16 m SHEET 2 UF 3 945507 J Z/MM A r MAW Y PATENTEDMAY 16 m2 3.662.741

APPARATUS FOR HEATING INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION are obtainable in convenient packages for use on a single repair or project.

In many instances it is desirable that the contents of the individualized packages be heated for use. Conventional packages must depend upon remote static heat sources or portable, inefficient heaters. adapted to repeated uses. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing packages containing their own disposable heat means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a self-heating package with expendable'or consumable contents in which the package has a container for the contents, means for holding the container and a heating element adjacent the contents. A heat transfer sheath surrounds the combustible substance of the heating element and an anticontamination coating on the sheath seals the contents from the heating chemicals. An igniter base on the exterior portion of the element has a pull tab connected to a movable igniter tip lodged in a coated aperture of the heater element. Thebase also contains a filter pad to adsorb the products of heater combustion.

The container holding means by the exterior of a rigid container, or, in the case of soft products such as buns or rolls, may comprise grip members extending from the igniter base adjacent the product surface.Preferably the heating element is separable from the consumable contents of the package when heating is accomplished. Consumable is used in this application to define products to be used up and products to beeaten. d

To provide means for. self-heating 'of individual portions economicallyfhas been a problem for thefood industry as well as other industries. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide individual food and other convenience packaged items whereinthe package contains its own source of heat.

It is a further object of the inventionto provide selfheating package wherein the heating element may be separated from the package as soon as heating is achieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaged item wherein the heating element is provided with means for filtering or absorbing the products of heating reaction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide ignition means for the element which is manually operable without added components not contained within the package. The apparatus of the invention. accomplishes these objectives and provides convenience, economy and ease of operation. These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description and drawing, in which like parts are given like reference characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a metal container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation takenin the area 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a further alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the element of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG: 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of FIGS.'l-3 a metal container 10 which has top and bottom ends 11 andl2, respectively, integrated with a cylindrical side 13 by the conventional rolled top'and bottom beads 18 and 19, respectively, may have solid or liquid contents 21 which it is desired to heat. As can be seen from FIG. 2, top'end 11 has a tear tab 22adapted to rupture and end along score lines 24-such that the entire top is removed from the line of the bead inwardly. Such a tear tab and score line arrangement is conventional and other similar opening components may also be utilized with the invention.

It is desirable to .heat the contents of the container uniformly. Therefore a heating element 26 within the container extends from top end 11 to proximate the bottom end 12 along the central axis of the container. Since the heating element passes through' the top end 11 it must be sealed to retain the contents. A plastic grommet '28, which is sealed within an aperture 29 of the top end, secures the heating element in place.

While a threaded fit between the grommet and the heating element may be used, it is preferred to solvent weld the heating element within the grommet in the interest of economy.

A base 31 for an igniter assembly 32 .issimilarly' fixed by welding to an exterior end 34 of the heating element. The igniter base has an inner spool portion 39 fixed about the heating element and an outer cup portion 41 which has a concave outer surface terminating in an inwardly protruding rim 43. The igniter base supports a pull ring 45 with an inner tang 46 from which a connector47 extends to an igniter tip 51. The tip lies in an aperture 54 within a combustible substance 55 inside the heating element. The aperture is defined by a cylindrical wall 56 which is preferably lined with a friction-ignitible coating 57, such as phosphorus, which ignites thesubstance 55 when it is itself ignited by passage of the tip along the aperture under the urging of the pull ring. The tip may be externally roughened to aid friction ignition. The substance 55 is combustibly self-supporting.

Preferably the heating element comprises a metallic sheath 61 of a heat conductive metal like aluminum, in which resides the combustible substance 55 that is ignitible from the friction igniter. As can be seen fromFlG. 2, the heating element is tion permit its use with foodstuffs and a wide range of other chemicals which do not react therewith. The low friction coating also aids removal of the'heating element from the contents of the container once proper heating is achieved.

Wax or other moisture-inhibiting coatings may be used to seal the tip in the base. The coating should be readily frangible so as not to inhibit the tip motion on igniting.

In use the container 10 is gripped in the hand of the user and the pull ring is quickly separated from the igniter base, pulling igniter tip 51 through the element aperture, the friction of its passage igniting the combustible substance 55 within the element.

Since most of the suitable combustible substances result in fumes or smoke, it is desirable to provide a filter unit 71 in the cavity of the igniter base. The filter can be of a suitable material such as charcoal impregnated plastic foam and need not be large in volume since the heating elementis used only once and then disposed of.

Disposal of the heating element is achieved when the container is opened. The tear tab 22 is pulled upwardly to initiate tearing along the score lines 24, 24' and then is pulled in conventional fashion along the pattern of the score lines to separate the top end 11 from the container. Thereafter the heating element assembly, including sheath and igniter base, is disposed of along with the top end of the container. The heated contents of the container may thereafter be poured, dipped or otherwise dispensed from the container in accordance with usage.

In larger containers it may be desirable to use a heating element which surrounds the contents. Such a heating element may be useful to attain higher content temperature quickly. In FIG. 4 a container 81 having a pull tab 82 on a top 83 is broken away to show a heating element 84 having a cylindrical upright portion 86 and a contiguous circular bottom disk 87. A heating element sheath 89 of similar configuration intervenes between the container contents 91 and the heating element. A combustible material 92 contained in the element may be sulphur or phosphorus or other combustible heating chemicals.

An igniter 93 intrudes into the thickness of the heating element disk 87 and is connected to a pull ring 96 within an igniter base 97 substantially like the base of the previously described embodiment. Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the heating element of FIG. 4 is not separable from the container. Rather, the removable top 83 is opened by means of the pull tab and the contents removed through the resulting opening. Ring 96 and the igniter tip 93 attached to it are disposable immediately after use, since the tip can be merely an abrasive plug without active chemicals.

FIGS. -8 illustrate a further alternate embodiment of the invention in which a self-heating package 101 (FIG. 5) having a heater assembly 103 is shown held by the hand 104 (shown in broken lines) of a user. The package has a conventional wiener 105 contained in a hollow bun 106.

The heater has an igniter base 108 which extends exteriorly of the base and from which hand holds 109 are outwardly about the periphery of the bun. As can be seen in FIG. 8, a heating element 112 extends inwardly through the wiener in a wiener cavity 113.

Heating element 112 comprises a metallic tubular sheath 114 with an external coating 115 ofa material like Teflon. The sheath is filled with a combustible substance 117 which has an aperture 118 at its exterior end. An exterior end 119 of the sheath has an external thread 120 which engages matching internal threads I22, 123 of a hand hold yoke 124 and an igniter base inner spool 126, respectively.

An outer igniter cup 128 integrally formed with the base and spool contains a smoke filter 131 which is retained by the inwardly projecting rim 132 of the cup.

A pull ring I34 is also retained by the cup and has an inward tang 135 from which a connector extends through a cup aperture 137 into the aperture 118 to attach to an abrasive igniter tip 139 seated in the aperture.

Preferably the aperture has a friction-ignitible coating, like that described with respect to the previous embodiment such that rapid withdrawal of igniter tip 139 from the aperture under the urging of pull ring 134 causes ignition of the combustible substance. As the substance burns, the product of combustion is heat which is distributed by the metallic sheath to the surrounding meat, heating the wiener to proper edible temperature. The pull ring and igniter tip may be immediately disposed of. The heating element is retained in the wiener and bun until heating is completed and is then withdrawn and disposed of. The filter pad 131 effectively adsorbs the products of combustion such as fume and smoke, to prevent them from interfering with enjoyment of the self-heating package.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the hand holds 109 afford a comfortable grip for the hand 104 while the other hand of a user is manipulating the pull ring to initiate combustion. By

utilizin separated hand holds less materialis required than with ot er arrangements and the entire heating assembly can be mass-produced at a very low price.

The operation of the self-heating devices is apparent to the average user and the uncomplicated procedural steps enhance the utility of the invention. The contents to be heated are protected from contamination by the ingredients of the heating element, and separation of the container contents and the heater element is easily accomplished. Since the purely illustrative embodiments shown and described herein may suggest many variations within the scope of the invention to those skilled in the particular art, it is desired that the invention be measured by the appended claims, rather than by the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for heating a consumable substance and comprising an exterior grip to secure the substance, a heating element adapted to contact the substance, a combustible material in the heating element occupying at least a major portion thereof, a metallic element sheath dividing the element from the substance, a wall in the combustible material defining an open-ended aperture, a friction-ignitable coating on the wall, an igniter tip movable with respect to the wall and in contact therewith, and exterior means connected to the tip for moving the tip with respect to the wall, said heating element and said consumable substance being separable after the substance is heated.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim I further comprising a exterior coating of a fluoronated hydrocarbon on said sheath.

3. A heating element for a self-heating package having a consumable substance and comprising a metallic sheath; an exterior igniter base fixed to the sheath, a hand grip extending from the base, a pull ring supported movably in the base, a combustible material in the sheath occupying at least a major portion thereof, an interior wall defining an aperture in the exterior end of the material, an igniter tip movably lodged in the aperture in contact with the wall, said wall having a friction-ignitable coating, and means linking the tip and the pull ring.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising an exteriorly concave wall on the base, and an absorbing filter in the concavity defined by the wall, said filter covering the exterior end of the combustible substance so as to absorb the fumes of combustion.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the filter comprises a charcoal-impregnated foam plastic pad. 

1. Apparatus for heating a consumable substance and comprising an exterior grip to secure the substance, a heating element adapted to contact the substance, a combustible material in the heating element occupying at least a major portion thereof, a metallic element sheath dividing the element from the substance, a wall in the combustible material defining an open-ended aperture, a friction-ignitable coating on the wall, an igniter tip movable with respect to the wall and in contact therewith, and exterior means connected to the tip for moving the tip with respect to the wall, said heating element and said consumable substance being separable after the substance is heated.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a exterior coating of a fluoronated hydrocarbon on said sheath.
 3. A heating element for a self-heating package having a consumable substance and comprising a metallic sheath; an exterior igniter base fixed to the sheath, a hand grip extending from the base, a pull ring supported movably in the base, a combustible material in the sheath occupying at least a major portion thereof, an interior wall defining an aperture in the exterior end of the material, an igniter tip movably lodged in the aperture in contact with the wall, said wall having a friction-ignitable coating, and means linking the tip and the pull ring.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising an exteriorly concave wall on the base, and an absorbing filter in the concavity defined by the wall, said filter covering the exterior end of the combustible substance so as to absorb the fumes of combustion.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the filter comprises a charcoal-impregnated foam plastic pad. 